In coordination with Taylor Development, which among other things owns an undeveloped 60 acre parcel of land that is zoned Manufacturing Park (MP) along Union Hill road in Southeast Redmond ( see Redmond zoning map here and Live.com Map here ), City Staff has presented the Redmond Planning Commission...

In the wake of a recent announcement by Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives that she will not seek another term of office, I was invited to and personally interviewed her two most viable successors: Councilman Jim Robinson and former councilwoman, Holly Plackett . I support both of these fine and experienced...

My holiday dinner party went pretty well, by all accounts. Dinner was a little late in coming due to the amazing length of time required to bake a 5lb slab of sea bass at 350F. None of my guests seemed to mind, however. There were plenty of pupus and drinks. Conversation was pleasant. New connections...

For the first time in a couple of years, I've decided to host a holiday dinner party for a few of my best friends, at my home in Redmond. For the sake of posterity and to give you some ideas for holiday meals you might want to prepare for your friends and family or request of that special cook in your...

My wonderful account representative at Branders.com , Hope recently and unexpectedly sent me a box of fun swag ideas. What a gal! She guaranteed that my toddler, Kiera would like the "jellyfish yoyos".
Nope.
Hope is thoughtful and definitely upbeat but it's fairly obvious she doesn't have any kids...

As a first time parent of the most incredible creature to ever walk this Earth--my fourteen month old daughter, Kiera --I am perpetually amazed by the simplicity and inexpensiveness of the objects and experiences that capture and hold her interest. Like most new dads, I am prone to compulsive toy shopping...

Last week, my mother informed me that there is an acute shortage of poi in the Hawaiian Islands and elsewhere. Whereas I have many things to blog about, this could very well be the most important, curious, and pressing.
Are we on the brink of a poi famine ?
The Uwajimaya Connection Anxious to confirm...

This just in: my fellow Planning Commissioner, Kim Allen has decided to run for Redmond City Council! I have been honored to know and work with Commissioner Allen for close to two years and I recommend her without hesitation. She is the first candidate to announce for the seat that will be vacated by...

Last week, I represented my group withiin Microsoft (Microsoft.com Community & Collaborative Development) along with my colleague, Betsy Aoki at the annual Microsoft TechEd Conference for software developers and IT Pros in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Here are a few random and incomplete reflections of...

One of the most generous Microsoft benefits is paternity/maternity leave: 4 fully-paid weeks for fathers and 8 weeks for mothers. After the recent birth of our first child, we spent the first 2 weeks of my paternity leave in Hawaii. When we returned to Seattle, I got to spend 2 wonderful weeks home alone...

I'll be out of the office, out of state, and off the grid for the next six weeks (paternity leave + holidays + vacation in TX, PA, and Hawai'i). I haven't had six solid weeks to myself in...well...ummmm...since 1998. Whatever should I read? My daughter and I are biting off a few pages of Smart Mobs each...

(Need a "closet techie" intern?) Last night, I attended the annual Alumni Sharing Knowledge night at my alma mater, the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. If you've never made the effort to involve yourself in an event like this at your own school (or any other for that matter), you should. The payoff...

Tonight, the Redmond Planning Commission discussed proposed updates to the Utilities Element , or chapter, of our 20-year Comprehensive Plan. Theoretically, we get around to reviewing each chapter once every five years. The Comp Plan is a state-mandated vision statement--a high-level spec of sorts--that...

Today, eWeek reported that the City of Philadephia, Pennsylvania is considering " an ambitious plan " to enable highspeed Internet access via Wi-Fi in all135 square miles of the city. As a planning commissioner for the City of Redmond , I tip my hat to the progressive, forward-thinking, and enlightened...

My wife Jennifer and I are proud to announce the birth of our first child:
Kiera Elizabeth Parnell
Kiera joined us on Saturday, August 7, 2004 at 6:27PM at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland, WA.
Kiera Facts
8lbs 14oz at birth
21.5 inches long
13in diameter head
4 1/2 hour delivery...

I ran into Redmond's mayor , Rosemarie Ives, and her husband at the annual Derby Days event earlier this month. She and her husband had just returned from a trip to Boston where they took a “wonderful walk through the Fenway gardens.“ They couldn't say enough good things about the public...

Someday, most large rooftops in urban areas in the United States will be green, not black.
David Mellis points to an excellent article in Metropolis Magazine about Chicago's green roofs . My European readers are probably already familiar with the green roof meme.
[ David Writes ] “ So that...

At our weekly meeting last night, the Redmond Planning Commission was asked to review potential changes to the Transportation chapter * of the city's Comprehensive Plan. Microsoft, ever-protective of the short term interests of its investors, dispatched a well-dressed and polite attorney from a reputable...

When planning my trip to Raleigh-Durham this week, I had to choose from approximately two dozen hotels, motels, executive suites, and residence inns in the Research Triangle area near the airport. Guess what, I didn't choose the nicest hotel, the one with the most services, or the fanciest foyer and...

Upon arriving in beautiful Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina the other day, I jumped in a National Car Rental shuttle en route to a satellite lot near the airport. As we neared the lot entrance, the driver asked, “Are you an Emerald Aisle Member?” His silver front tooth sparkled in the sunlight...

Hallmarks of a Great Tester is the best Microsoft help wanted post I've seen yet. Oops, I just ruined it.
Anyway, it begins with,
“ If you ask me, I'll tell you a great tester
Is devious
A great tester has a streak of deviousness. Anyone can follow the lists of test cases that abundantly...

I'm sitting in on a usability test of some Visual Studio 2005 Team System features. The test subject is capable, smart, asks all the right questions, and most importantly, agrees with my assessment of the product: Team System Rocks .
One-way glass and presumed anonymity makes me giddy.
I review...

For a city of its size, the streets of San Diego are remarkably well-designed, user-friendly, “nuisance free“, and well documented.
Crosswalk Interfaces In the vicity of the San Diego Convention Center, crosswalks are well marked, well-lighted, human scale, and when pushed, provide continuous...